I saved almost all of the coffee and re-bagged it, giving it to my brother, the caffiend. (Well, there’s a tee shirt design.) The filters were still good, so I saw no reason to waste those. Before I made this logo, I even called ahead to my parents’ place to see what kind of filters I should get. The reply was “Size 4.” What are these? Mini skirts?

For that matter, what’s the deal with this lady? I always just assumed it was Medusa, based solely on the long wavy strands, but for the first time, I’m really looking at this, and I’m going to go with two-tailed mermaid princess. Maybe the extra tail is what made her royalty? Only one person can solve this mystery.

Wikipedia.

Oh for the love of God. (sigh) Now we’ll never know.

Waitaminute. I work for the ad agency responsible for Starbucks’ campaigns. (35 seconds elapse) So I got off the phone with one of the account people on the Starbucks business, and he says it’s a “siren.” I guess I could always check the actual Starbuccks website:

Let’s go all the way back to 1971, to when Starbucks was first coming to be. In a search for a way to capture the seafaring history of coffee and Seattle’s strong seaport roots, there was a lot of poring over old marine books going on. Suddenly, there she was: a 16th century Norse woodcut of a twin-tailed mermaid, or Siren. There was something about her – a seductive mystery mixed with a nautical theme that was exactly what the founders were looking for. A logo was designed around her, and our long relationship with the Siren began.

Well, if nothing else, Starbucks designed an easily recognizable logo for its brand. My guess was spot-on.

*My last cup of joe was at a wedding in May 2007. And before that? No idea. Maybe when I was 7, and only because my parents forbade me from drinking the stuff. That’s probably why I was addicted to tequila by 5th grade. (Kidding!)